Sami’s Story

Sami passed away on September 15, 2008. This is his story as he wrote it in 2006.

Sami’s Story
Osteosarcoma at the distal femur with lung mets
Age at Diagnosis: 21
Date of Diagnosis: 1995

Diagnosis: It started with a little swelling in my lower leg which I disregarded thinking I bumped my leg somewhere. Some time passed by and it didn’t go away, so finally went to the local hospital. The doctor thought it was swelling and gave me some meds for the infection. The condition persisted and I went to see another doctor. He took an x-ray, and with one look he told me it was osteosarcoma and referred me to the only local hospital in the country that deals with cancer. …Read More

Reed’s Story

Reed passed away on June 28, 2008. This is his story as he shared it in 2007.

Ewing’s sarcoma at the pelvis
Age at Diagnosis: 44
Date of Diagnosis: 2006
Location: Columbia, Missouri, United States
Surgeon: Howard Rosenthal of the Mid-America Sarcoma Institute
Oncology Team: Anderson, Miller, and Westgate at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center

Diagnosis: In late January 2006, I left Missouri for two months of fieldwork in Indonesia with a growing tumor in my right pelvis. That hip had been stiff and hurting off and on for quite awhile (over a year at least), but everyone assumed it was muscle/exercise related. (The stretching exercises did seem to help for awhile so no one thought anything of it.) During my time in the field, however, the cancer decided to accelerate its growth; I can’t recall a more uncomfortable and sometimes excruciating field experience as it began mashing rather unrelentingly on my sciatic nerve, making it painful to walk very far. …Read More

Kevin’s Story

Kevin died of Ewing’s sarcoma on May 17, 2008. This is his story as he wrote it in January 2006.

Ewing’s sarcoma at the scapula
Age at Diagnosis: 32
Date of Diagnosis: June 2004
Location: New York State
Surgeon: Dr. Patrick Boland
Oncologist: Dr. Paul Myers
Hospital: Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City

Diagnosis: I had had surgery for a torn labrum in my left shoulder in March of 2004. When I visited my doctor for my three-month checkup (June 9), I had swelling in my left shoulder. The doctor ordered x-rays that showed a dramatic change in my left scapula. Seeing this change, he ordered an MRI to look more closely. The MRI showed erosion in my left scapula. At this time, he was confused. My previous MRI (Dec. 2003), showed no defects or problems with the scapula. He was concerned that I may have had some reaction to the anchors from the surgery. Or worse, that it may be an infection or some type of tumor. …Read More

David’s Story

Linda writes: My husband was a very unique and energetic man. He was very smart in business, and his advice was sought after by many. He was a “fixer” in that he was always making things (and people) “better.” He had a gift that way. Physically, he could work circles around men half his age (and often did). He loved the Lord, and was very devoted to his family. He was sensitive to the feelings of others, and often set his own needs aside for the sake of everyone else. He was very busy, always. He was a wonderful husband, very romantic, and very sweet. We dated for 6 years, and were married 17 1/2 years, totalling 23 1/2 years. …Read More

Andrew’s Story

Karen writes: Andrew was a very loving man. His family meant the world to him. He was a very hard worker. He was a baker following in his parents footsteps. Andrew worked hard and played hard. He liked to go out with his mates, but always put his family first. He had a lovley wife, Jane, a son Andrew and a daughter, Kirsty. We were a very close knit family, mum, dad, brother Carl and me Karen, his sister. …Read More

Amanda’s Story

Jo Ann writes: If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane. I’d walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

I will remember Amanda mostly for her terrific sense of humor and her wonderful smile. She could be tough as nails but had an extremely gentle heart. I love her so much. I miss her like crazy. It is not right that she should not be here with us now. Personally I detest cancer. It feels like a war against the people we love. Unfortunately sometimes even though we battle with all of our might. We don’t win. …Read More